Web controlling mechanism



Fb-7,1933, c.; RICHTER 1,896,801

WEB GONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 14, 1929 2 sneetssheet 2 'TE-Z Patented Feb.4 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT orf-FICE CHARLES J. RICHTER' 0F BEBWYNL'ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 GOSS PRINTING PRESS Y COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS WEB CONTBDLLING MECHANISM Application mea December 14, 1929. sei-1:11110. 414,121.

The present invention relates to web controlling mechanism and more particularly to such a mechanism for use in connection with high-speed rotary printing presses.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinaftcer and' in, part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims. y

The invention consists in the novel parts, zonstruction, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constltuting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the nvention, and

together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is an end elevation of one embodiment of a web controlling mechanism illustrative of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detailed section taken on the line 3 3 of F :'g. l; and

Fig. 4 isa fragmentary detailed section taken on'the line 4.--4 of Fig. 2.

The present vinvention has for its object the provision of a web controlling mechanism for maintaining the tension'of the web, as it is drawn from the web roll and fed to a printing press or other web using machine, substantially constant under norm'al operating conditions and for quickly stopping .thev rotation .of the web roll in case the press is stopped or the web breaks, thereby Vpreventing the unrolling of large quantities of the web which would foul the press. The present invention also provides a simple, rugged and sensitive mechanism for controlling the tension of the web and maintaining the tension substantially constant, at the same time permitting the web rolls to be easily replenished.

According to the present embodiment ofthe invention, means are provided for ro'- tatably supporting a. web'roll, from which a.V web of paper is drawn of and Vled to a web the using machine, such as a rotary printing press, and the web roll supporting means 1s preferably movable enabling the web roll to be engaged while it is supported on the truck on which it is brought to the web roll supporting mechanism and to. be raised therefrom into running position. The tensioning means, coacting with the web roll to ten-v sion the web drawn therefrom, preferably comprises a plurality of spaced-apart, flexible, friction belts engaging theperiphery of the web roll and pressed into contact there-l with to oppose the rotation of the web rollV and'produce the necessary tension on the web, andv for maintaining these flexible friction belts in contact with the peripheryof the web roll, there is preferably provided a perodicallyreleased weightwhicli moves the belts-as the web `roll wears down, the action of theweight being controlled by a pilot roller which is moved by the tension of the web in passing from the web roll to the printing press.- In order to' diminish the frequency of operation of the weight, and to maintain the pressure between the friction belts and the Web roll suicient to produce the constant web tension desired, and for continuously and minutelycontrolling the pressurev between the belts and the web roll, the pilot roller is fpreferably provided with means for moving the belts independently of the weight. Means are' also providedfor greatly increasing 'the pressure between the belts and the web roll for quickly stopping rotation of the web roll when the web breaks or' the press is shut down, and as embodied, the pilot roller releases the weight permitting its entire force Ato be applied to the friction belts.

Other features of the invention be initially pointed out in connection with the following detailed descriptions ofthe present.

preferred embodiment of the invention, and it will be understood that the foregoing general description 'and the following detailed description are both exemplary and explanatory, but not restrictive of the invention.

Referring nowV in detail to `thepresent prei ferred embodiment, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, the

web roll supporting means preferably com- -prises a pair of angularly movable arms -fthe arms in which the web roll supporting preferably slidably transversely of the .I tensioning tensioning of the web. As embodied, these' are maintainedin contact therewith withf 16 rotatably mounted in ported on the upright side shaft 13 is rotatably journalled. Means are also preferably provided for raising and lowering the web roll supporting arms 10 to raise the web roll 14 from the truck on which it is brought ing mechanism, and to hold the web rolll in raised or running position. As `embodled, supporting shaft 11, on which the supporting arms 10 are mounted, is provided at one of its ends with a wormgear segment 15 keyed to the shaft and meshing-with a'worm a bracket 17 supframe 18 of the press, the worm, in turn, with a handle 19 by which it is turned to position the supporting arms l 14. rl`he web roll supporting arms 10 are keyed on their supporting shaft 1 1, and are held-in the desired position thereon by suitable means, such as set screws 20,-so that apart the necessary distance to accommodate the different widths of web rolls. Means may, and preferably are, provided for bodily moving the web roll supporting arms, and the web roll supported thereby web to register the'web with the cylinders of the printing press to. which the web is fed, and for this purpose supporting shaft may be provided with a threaded end portion 21 cooperating with a threaded hand wheel 22 held against axial movement. By turning the hand wheel, the shaft 11, arms 10 and web roll 14, can be moved from one side of the supporting struc-l ture to the other. f

For guiding the web from the web roll to the press, or other web using machine, there are preferably provided guide rollers 23 of suitable construction and positioned so as to guide the web through the desired path.

According to the present invention, the of the web is preferably effected by means of friction members which are stationary and rub on the periphery of the web roll, thereby exertin a drag on therotation of the web roll, an creating the necessary friction members'preferably comprise iiexible spaced-apart belts 25,whih are pressed into contact with the periphery of the web roll, and under normal operating conditions,

sufficient pressure to produce a substantially constant web tension, althoughthe pressure as thefpress In the presl ent embodiment there yare. provided a lplu-^ belts 25 `securelyv fasgreatly increased is referably p the web breaks.

is stopped,.or

rality of these friction tened, at their lower ends, to abar' 26, ex-

tending from one side ofthe web'l-r'oll-sup- `y .to the web roll support-Av being connected v 10 and web roll the arms can be spaced surface of thekwebvroll.'

porting mechanism to the other and seated frames.

with the periphery of maintaining them in riphery of the web wears down, diameter, the upper ends of the friction belts contact with the peroll as the web vroll are fastened to individual rollers 29 mountedon shaft 30 rotatably journalled in the side frames 18 of the press, these rollers being in substantial alinement with the lower ends of the friction belts, and weighted means are provided for winding the beltson the rollers 29 as the web roll wears down to take up the slack in the belts and maintain them in lcontact with the web roll. Guide roller 32 is preferably provided, over which the belts 25 run, and is substantially in linel with thefcenters of the web roll 14 and the rod 26 towhich the lower ends of the belts are fastened, so that 'the belts can be pressedinto,A contact with even a very small stub of a web roll. I

. The weighted means for winding the belts on the rollers and for maintaining the belts in contact with the web .rolls preferably com,- prises a relatively large weight 33, suiicient to exertthe maximum required pressure -between the beltsand the surface of the, web roll to stop the web roll quickly,'and is vertical slidable vina trackway formed between the angled pieces 34' extending l vertically along the edges of the upright portion of one side frame 18 of the press. Weight 33 is connected with the rollers 29- for turning the rollers, and preferably a cable 35 is attached to the weight, extends upwardly over pulley 36, and is wound on a pulley 37 at one end of the roller shaft 30, the cable` being releasably l connected with the pulley by=means of a retaining screw 38, as shown in Fig. 4.

Means are preferably provided, in accordance with the present invention for control# ling the application of the weight to thel belts,

and for permitting the weight-toy move the belts only when` the belts become sufliciently slack toexert insufficient pressure .on the surface of theweb roll, although in accordance with the invention, the. controlling means pressure between the belts andtheweb roll and` thereby maintain the tension ofthewb substantially constant.

movement of the weight comprises'va-"br'ake controlling Vthe movement of the roller shaft 30 and permitting the weight 3-3fto`move Eto take up the -belts as they become loose onthe ably comprisesa brake drurn39 ixedaoirlrollershaft' 30 and cooperating*Withaopair of brake shoes 40, pivotally `mounted onbnake arms 41', which" are pivotedby ya commonpivotm :In theAl embodied Y form, the means for normally lrest'raining in the lower side reaches 27 of the press l or gradually diminishes in may be so adjusted thatthe weightfwill. be controlled to exert the necessaryu andV desired pin 42 secured to the side frame of the press. The brake shoes are pressed into con tact with each other by tie bolt.44, and spring is preferably connected with the frictionbelts in such a manner as to maintain the tension i produced by the pressure between the friction belts and the periphery of the web roll substantially constant; As embodied, the pilot roller 48 is supported'by a pair of arms 50 pivotallyrmounted in the upright 'side fra es of the press by means of shaft 51 an at either side of the press frame 18, the arms being held fixed on the shaft by means of keys 52. At their upper ends, arms 50 are provided with slots 53 adapted to receive the ends of the pilot roller shaft 54 and to move arms 50 as the pilot roller moves. Pilot roller 48 is provided with journal blocks 55. in which the ends of shaft 54 are journalled, and theses blocks are slidably mounted in,hori zontal s lideways 56 at either Vside ofthe press frame. In passing to the. press, the web 49 is looped over the pilot roller 48 between the guide rollers 23, the tension of theweb moving the pilot roller against the tension of springs 58 at one end of each of the sideways. These springs 58 arte preferably of suiicient length so that their tension changes very slowly as they are compressed. For connecting the pilot roller 48 with the friction belts 25, there is provided rollers 59 mounted on shaft 60 extending from one armV 50 to the other and rotatably journall'ed on Vthe shaft .60. The friction belts 25 are! cov ' looped over these rollers 59 as they pass from guide roller 32 to the' rollers 29 on which they are wound. As the pilot roller moves, rollors-59 are subjected to acorresponding move-" ment and increase or decrease the Hlessure between the belts and the surface of t 'e web roll. In case ofa stopping of the press, or af `break inthe web, .the pilot roller quicklyy inoves to the right1(ofFigure 1) aty the same time' greatly increasing the pressure betweenthe belts and the web roll and/'stopping the and permits the ,weight .to 4actwhen the'pilot roller 48 has-"been Iawn :to a definite posi- -tion'by'V the tension of the web. In the normal operation ofthe tension controlling mechanisni, the pilot roller acts continuously to control the tension of the` belts, and the weight acts periodically to take up the slack in the belts and to move the pilot roller to the Y left, and thereby the weight maintains the belts in contact with the web roll, while the pilot roller controls the tension of theweb. Between the brake arms 41, and serving to open them` and .release the brake is an operating cam 64, pivotally mounted on pin and provided with an'operating lever 66 connectyed with the cam. As the cam is moved from its normal position, as shown, it spreads the brake shoes `and allows the weightV to descend tightening y'the belts and simultaneously moving the pilot roller to the left (Figure 1). Operating cam 64 is referably connected with the pilotroller by means of a link 67 pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of lever 66, and at its other end connected with thef arms 50 by means of a slot and pin connection 68 so that movement of the lot roller beyond 'a predetermined limit wi l cause a corresponding movement of the .brake operating cam. The slot and pin connection serves to reduce the frequence of operation of the weight onv t'he friction belts 25, and prevents excessive wear of the brake shoes, at the same time assisting in maintaining the tension of the web more nearly constant: e

As shown in the drawings, the present embodiment of the invention when the .web breaks, orwhn the press is stopped, the pilot roller48 will move to the extreme right hand position `(Fi ure l) opening the brake shoes 40 .and applylng the full force of weight 33 to the friction belts 25, and at the same time the belt tensioning roller will bemoved to the right also tending to press the y`'belts into firmer contact with the surface of the web s rolls,fand this combined action on the belts b lts and the web roll uickl s`to in the rgtation of the web rollt(1 pp g 1 VUnder certain operating conditions, it will be foundrdesirable to retard the action of the weight in moving 'thef belts, and permitting to be applied thereto only gradually as the brake shoes are'released. For this purpose` the welght may be provided with al dashpot or other suitable retarding device' to cause thewelghtto act slowly on the belts and move the pilot roller'` to the left without undue ltension upon the web. This will increase the frequency ofoperationof the weight, but will make the tension somewhat more v'consta-nt thanl wouldotherwise be the case.4

Forf enabling'tlie'mechanism to be operated `by a single operator .with very little effort,

mea-ns are-provided for-facilitating theilifting ofthe weight-L33 toits vuppermost position, as is-necess'ary whena new web roll lis to be p ut into running osition, and for this purpose, there 1s provi ed a raclg69'vertically extending within one of the angle-piecesl 34 attached to the side frame and forming theI trackway for the Weight, and cooperating with thisv rack is a small pinion 70 rotatably mounted in the body of the weight, and fast von shaft 71, by which it is rotatably mounted.

y claims without departing -from the principles 'trolling the movement of the belts of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

l. Web controlling mechanism including in combination, a web roll support, friction belts engaging' the surface of the web roll, Weighted means to move the belts to maintain them in contact with the periphery of the web roll and means for periodicallyv rendering the Weighted means operative. A

2. Web controlling mechanism including in combination, a web' roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of the web roll, a weight topress the beltsvagainst the web roll surface; means for normally preventing the weight from acting on the belts, and means controlled by` the tension of the web for con-A weight.

3. Web controlling mechanism including in combination, a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface `of the web roll,

a Weight for pressing the belts against thev web roll surface, a brake normally preventing movement of the weight, a' pilot roller moved by the tension ofthe web, and means Yconnecting the brake and pilot roller for releasing the bra-ke and allowing-the weight to maintain the belts in contact with the web roll as the web roll; wears down.

' 4.*Web controlling mechanism ,including in combination, a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of the-web roll,

a Weight connected with the friction belts,- a pilot rollermoved by the tension ,of the web and controlling the movement of the weight for maintaining the web tensionsubstantially constant, said lpilotroller being,

movable independently ofl said Weight.

5. Web controlling mechanism including in combination, a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of the web roll, a weight periodically operative on the friction belts a pilot roller moved by the tension of the we means connecting the pilot roller and the weight for controlling the periodic operation .of the weight by a predetermined lmovement of thepilot roller 'and .means for controlling the periodic operation 'of the v .nu

pilot roller. f

6. Web controlling mechanism including in combination, a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of the web roll, a weight periodically operative on the fricf tion belts for maintaining the belts in contact with the periphery of the Web roll, and a pilot roller moved by changes in the tension of the web vand means' for controlling the periodic operation of the Weight by a predetermined movement 'of the pilot roller for maintaining the tension of the web substantially constant.- 7 Web controlling mechanism including in combination, a web -roll support, friction `belts engaging the surface of the Web roll, a weight connected to one end of the belts for pressing the belts into Contact with the periphery of the web roll, and a pilot roller connected with Said belts intermediate their ends and moved by the tension of the web for weight by a predetermined movement of the sus varying the pressure lbetween the belts and'y the web roll.

8. Web controlling mechanism including in combination, a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of the web roll; a weight connected with the belts for moving the belts to-maintain them in contact with the periphery of the web roll, a pilot roller connected with the belts for moving the belts to control the tension of the web drawn from the web roll, means normally holding'the weight against movement, and means controlled by the pilot roller for per- 'mitting the Weight to move the belts. Y

9. Web controlling mechanism including in combination, a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of the web` roll, a weight for moving the belts, a pilot roller for moving the belts, a brake normally holding. thel weight against movement, and means controlled by the pilot. roller for releasing the brake whereby the belts are maintainedin contact with the periphery of th web roller.

11. Web controlling mechanism including I in combination, a web roll support, friction belts' engaging the surface of the web roll, aweight for periodically moving the belts to maintain them in contact with the web 10. 'Web controlling mechanism including roll, a pilot `roller-.moved by the tension of the web and connected with the belts and means for controlling the periodic operation of the weight by a predetermined movement of the pilot roller for moving the belts to maintain the pressure between them and the web roll to produce a constant web tension as the web roll wears down, said pilot roller besion of the.l web substantially constantysaidpilot roller being movable independently of said weight.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES J. RICHTER.`

in combination, a web roll support, friction belts engaging the' surface of the web roll, a weight connected with the belts, a pilot roller connected with the belts and means controlled by the pilot roller for periodically releasing the weights to maintain the belts in contact with the periphery of the web rolly and for pressing the belts against the web rollwhen the web breaks to stop the web roll.

14. Web controlling mechanism including in combination, a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of the web roll,

` a. weight connected with the belts, a pilot roller connected with the belts, means normally'holding the weight against movement,

and means connecting` the pilot roller and Weight `for releasing the weight on relatively large reductions in web tension.

15. Web controlling mechanism including in combination, a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface of the .web roll, a pilot roller for moving the belts on small changes in web tension, a` weight controlled by the pilot roller for moving the belts on large reductions'in web tension, the pilot roller and weight coacting to stop the web roll when the web breaks or the web using machine is stopped.

16. Web controlling mechanism including in -combin ation, means forrotatablyl supporting a web roll, friction belts engaging the surface of the web roll for tensioning the web, weighted means for maintaining the belts in contact with the web roll, and means for periodically releasing the weighted means and allowingit to move the belts into t contact with tle web roll. v V 17. Web controlling mechanism including in combination, a web roll support, friction belts engaging the surface ofthe web roll, a weight periodically operative on the friction belts for maintaining the4 belts in contact with the periphery of the web roll, a pilot roller connected with-thejbelts and moved changes in the tension of the web and means forcontrolling the periodic operation of the welght by predetermined movement of the pllot roller for maintaining the ten- 

